Lightning Recall Downie, Reassign Mihalik to Norfolk

Tampa Bay Lightning Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced today that the club has reassigned prospect defenseman Vladimir Mihalik to the Norfolk Admirals (AHL) and have recalled prospect forward Steve Downie from the Admirals.

A 6-foot-7, 222-pound native of Presov, Slovakia, Mihalik has recorded two assists with the Lightning this season in seven games. He has averaged 12:11 in ice time with four shots on goal. He had a two-game assist streak from January 4 to January 12 (missing two games in between starts). The 22-year-old was drafted by the Lightning in the first round, 30th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Mihalik appeared in his 100th career AHL game on Saturday night in Norfolk versus Manchester. The native of Presov, Slovakia, has appeared in 32 games with Norfolk this season scoring two goals and six assists with 30 penalty minutes. In 100 career AHL games â€“ all with Norfolk â€“ Mihalik has three goals and 24 points.

Downie, a 5-foot-10, 192-pound native of Newmarket, Ontario, has posted eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points in just 18 games for Norfolk this season. He was named an AHL All-Star earlier this week. Among his notable accomplishments with the Admirals this season are a franchise-record tying four-assist game on December 13 versus Bridgeport, a hat trick on December 27 versus Philadelphia and an Admirals season-high eight-game scoring streak from November 16 â€“ December 27 during which he registered five goals and ten assists.

Downie was acquired by the Lightning from the Philadelphia Flyers on November 7. Prior to the trade, he also appeared in four games with the Flyers' AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms, recording one goal and seven assists. In 22 total AHL games this season, Downie has nine goals and 23 assists for 32 points. In 44 career AHL contests between Norfolk and Philadelphia, the second-year professional has scored 14 goals and 40 assists for 54 points.

The 21-year-old has also appeared in 14 NHL games this season between the Lightning and Flyers. He has appeared in eight games with the Lightning, scoring one goal and 16 penalty minutes. With the Flyers, Downie had 11 penalty minutes in six games. Downie has appeared in 46 career NHL games between Tampa Bay and Philadelphia, recording seven goals and 13 points. He also appeared in six games with the Flyers during the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs, registering one assist and ten penalty minutes.

Downie was originally drafted by Philadelphia in the first round, 29th overall, at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He played in 190 career junior games with Windsor, Peterborough and Kitchener. He amassed 82 career goals and 234 points. He also appeared in 43 OHL playoff games, recording 18 goals and 53 points.